Albus Dumbledore simply responded with a smile, not showing the surprised expression Ian had hoped to see. The little wizard could only leave the office with a disappointed sigh.
A moment later.
"The gift you gave that little fellow is quite precious. I saw you went through a lot of trouble making it," remarked a former headmaster's portrait on the wall with an air of reminiscence.
Albus Dumbledore closed the book in his hands once more.
"After all, I promised to give it to him." Albus Dumbledore's voice was calm and gentle as he returned the book titled "Fooling Fate" to the shelf.
After sending the little wizard away, Albus Dumbledore seemed wide awake, or perhaps he was never tired to begin with. He continued reading other books for several hours.
"Secrets of the Time Converter"
"Secrets of Time Travel"
"Legendary Proof: End of the Dharma Era"
...
The old headmaster seemed to be waiting for someone.
Soon.
Midnight arrived.
As if sensing something, he looked up at Grindelwald, who entered without knocking, with an inquisitive and seeking look on his face.
"I had a dream."
Grindelwald gave a simple reply.
Albus Dumbledore immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good, it seems my part didn't go wrong." Albus Dumbledore stood up, returning all the books piled before him back to the shelf.
"How about your part?"
He turned to look at his old friend.
"Hmm? When have I ever messed up?" Grindelwald shrugged and walked towards the sleeping Fox. Albus Dumbledore immediately moved to awaken the Phoenix, who was groggy from sleep.
"We need a little help from you…"
After soothing their companion,
Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald disappeared from the office.
This was the Phoenix's ability.
It took the two of them to another place.
Morning in Austria.
It unfolded like a delicate and moving painting in the dawn.
As the first ray of sunlight gently touched the snowy peaks of the Alps, the entire world seemed to be covered in a faint golden hue. The mist lingering in the mountains added a touch of mystery and grace to this magnificent range.
"Swish~"
Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald appeared within a manor, standing in front of a tomb that looked as if it had been visited by a grave robber.
"Sir."
A voice came from a nearby house, it was Ronnie Ehrlich's voice. He appeared very weak, slowly approaching Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore in a wheelchair.
"See, no problem came up."
Grindelwald greeted Ronnie Ehrlich with a cheerful smile. He turned to see Albus Dumbledore's hand trembling, as if suppressing some strong emotion within.
"Very well."
He responded in a low voice and quickly moved to check on Ronnie Ehrlich's condition—apart from some physical weakness, there was nothing different from a normal person.
"I feel good now... everything before seemed like a dream." Ronnie Ehrlich looked up at Grindelwald with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"You can consider it a dream, but from today, you need to take on a new identity, abandoning the one that's already dead."
Grindelwald gently pushed Ronnie Ehrlich back into the wheelchair as he attempted to stand.
"Am I a piece in your plan?"
Ronnie Ehrlich nodded, his eyes filled with both confusion and eagerness. Grindelwald looked towards Albus Dumbledore before softly whispering a few words.
"Rest well, you have a more important mission ahead." With that, under Albus Dumbledore's gaze, he walked with Albus Dumbledore towards the empty tomb.
"I doubt this will keep him in the dark."
Albus Dumbledore's words carried an implicit message.
"It's not a major issue."
Grindelwald wasn't too concerned, his gaze fixed on the empty tomb, eyes turning white as things obscured by mist became vaguely visible within.
"After all, the challenge has just begun, hasn't it." Grindelwald's tone held a touch of reflection, "Who would have thought the little fellow would bring us such an opportunity. I knew investing in him wouldn't be wrong."
Clearly.
Some things weren't without impact or change.
"You should thank not just Ian." Albus Dumbledore sighed lightly. Beside him, Grindelwald nodded and replied in a slightly serious voice.
"Of course, we must also thank... ourselves." The voice of the former Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts was low, indicating that their current situation was not as Ian imagined.
"Have a chat with Ronnie, remind him of what he needs to know, I have some other matters to attend to." Albus Dumbledore's expression was quite complicated.
He quickly walked out of the manor.
Grindelwald didn't stop him.
But Ronnie Ehrlich, approaching shakily in the wheelchair, was rather puzzled by this.
"Didn't he say there were many things to prepare? Why is he leaving?" The former Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts glanced out, seeing Albus Dumbledore's figure hastily departing.